The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal today that police protection will be provided to former CID Director Shani Abeysekara, taking into account the existing security threats.
Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya, appearing for the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses, gave this undertaking when the writ petition filed by Shani Abaysekara seeking adequate security for him and his family was taken up before the Court of Appeal.
In his writ petition, Shani Abeysekara had sought an order directing the police to provide security to him and his family in compliance with the directives of the
The National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses
ASG Abeysuriya informed the court that two armed policemen will be deployed for the security of the former CID Director and an additional policeman will be deployed for the security of Shani Abeysekara’s residence.
President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that his client is satisfied with this arrangement. However, he said they will file contempt of court papers in the Supreme Court against the respondents if they fail to implement this undertaking that was given to the court.
The petitioner had named the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses, IGP Chandana Wickremaratne, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, and several others as respondents.
The petitioner states that evidently he and his family are exposed to severe security threats, and the provision of security by an unarmed police constable is clearly inadequate and does not suffice to provide the required protection to the petitioner or his family. He further said these threats exist as long as he is alive, so these unidentified threats are life-time life threats towards the petitioner.
Shani Abeysekara states that the failure to comply with the requirement imposed by the Victims Protection Authority is an offence under Section 14(2) of the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act, No. 4 of 2015, and shall be guilty of an offence of contempt of the Authority.
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